Wrench.



ANo. 811,549T PATENTBD JAN. 15, 1997.

11.11. LBGG. WRENCH.

APPLIOATIONFILED APRA, 1906.

3 vw@ n to@ ROLAND H. LEGG, OF OARTHAGE, MISSOURI.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed April 4. 1906. Serial No. 309,893.

To all wiz/0m; t 71u01/ concern,.-

Bc it known that I, ROLAND H. LEGG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oarthage, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in Wrenches of that type which embody two slidably-adjustable jaws 5 and the object of the invention is to provide a wrench of this character which is extremely simple and durable in its construction and which can be quickly adjusted so as to throw the two jaws in the desired position with'relation to each ot-her.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the wrench that the jaws can be readily brought together, but cannot be forced apart without first releasing the locking mechanism.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which` Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wrench. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the wrench, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the adj listing-sleeve, showing the locking member detached, a part of the main shank of the wrench being also shown.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the fixed jaw of the wrench, which is connected to the main shank 2, having the handle 3 at one end thereof. The movable jaw 1, which is' located opposite the fixed jaw 4, is provided with a shank 5, which fits loosely against the main shank 2 and has a sleeve 6 at its inner end, which is slidably mounted upon the main shank 2. It will thus be apparent that the distance between the fixed jaw 1 and the movable jaw 4 can be regulated by moving the sleeve 6 back and forth upon the shank 2. The fixed jaw 1 may be provided with a loop or keeper 7, through which the shank 5 slides, the said keeper being made integral in the present instance. In order to lock the two jaws of the wrench in a fixed position with relation to each other, an eccentric locking member 8 is employed, which operates in a slot 9 in one side of the sleeve 6 and is pivotally mounted between two spaced lugs 10, projecting from the said sleeve. The face of the main shank 2, over which the slotted portion of the sleeve 6 slides, is milled or roughened, as shown in the drawings, and the engaging portion of the eccentric member 8 is also milled or roughened so as to have an interlocking connection with the shank 2. It will be observed that the locking member 8 is so formed that the two jaws of the wrench can be readily forced together, but cannot be pulled apart without releasing the locking member. A lever or finger-piece 11 is employed for releasing the locking member 8, and this linger-piece 11 extends rearwardly along the sleeve 6 and is curved so as to throw the end thereof inward toward the shank 2. The end of the sleeve 6 which is located toward the handle 3 has the portion thereof adjacent the end of the finger-lever 11 beveled or rounded off, as shown at 12. l/Vith this construction it will be apparent that when the finger-lever 11 is pushed inwardly, so as to release the eccentric member 8, the curved portion of the lever will bear against the rounded end 12 of the sleeve. A spring 13 bears against the finger-lever 11 and normally tends to force the same outwardly, so as to throw the eccentric member into engagement with the shank 2. One end of the spring 13 is secured to the sleeve 6,- 'while the opposite end projects rearwardly over the rounded portion 12 of the sleeve and engages with the inwardly-bent end of the finger-lever 11. For this purpose the end of the lever 11 maybe bifurcated, as shown at 14.

In the operation of the wrench it will be apparent that when the lever 11 is pushed inwardly the sleeve 6 can be moved back and forth upon the main shank 2, so as to adjust the distance between the two jaws of the wrench, but that when the finger-lever 11 is released the spring 13 forces it outward and throws the eccentric member into engagement with the main shank 2. It may be also pointed out that the stronger the force tending to separate the jaws the more positive becomes the interlocking connection between the eccentric member 8 and the main shank 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new ish The herein shown and described wrench comprising a main shank having an integral jaw and keeper at one endprojected there- IOG IIO

from in Opposite directions, the outer portions of the keeper and jaw being in the same plane, a second shank slidable upon the -main shank through the keeper ,thereof and provided at its outer end with a jaw and at its inner end with a sleeve snugly embracing the main shank and cooperating with the aforesaid keeper to hold the said second shank in place the sleeve having a slot in the side correspending with the shank extended therefrom, and having lugs projected outward therefrom in line with the sides of the slot, an eccentric locking member pivoted between the lugs and operating in the slot of the sleeve and having a curved nger-piece notched in its outer end, and a spring attached to the rear end of the sleeve and seated in the A notched end of the finger-piece and exerting a pressure thereon to hold the locking inember in engagement with the main shank.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROLAND H. LEGG. [L. s] Witnesses:

BENJAMON F. LULL, GEORGE W. HALL. 

